Citation writing procedures..

[GhostRider_27]

This may be the most ridiculous question to date, but who knows some may agree with me.

Okay, I'm in my second phase of FTO, where in my department means that I should be at a point where I am initiating traffic stops and general self initiated activity.

My problem is this and I don't know if it's a problem or something that I just need to get used to. When I'm writing a citation, I'm not comfortable at all. When I write, I attach the DL on the upper clip but the ins. & reg. card seems to get all over the place. Do you guys put this stuff down at all on the seat or just hold it? When I'm writing multiple citations my hand starts hurting. Now, leaning on an object I can write for hours with little to no effort at all, but for some reason standing with that little citation clip board isnt comfortable at all.

So, question is... Where do some of you leave the docs when your writing, and do any of you lean on the trunk? I know it's been told to me to never sit in the patrol vehicle for safety so it may be a help to me if some of you can offer your techniques..

Thanks..

[Mike11]

Sorry, can't help you. 23 years at it, always (well almost) sit in the car. That way if things go bad I can leave!!! :p

[kirch]

I've never written a citation outside the vehicle. Inside is where I have the MDC to run people and plates, my bond book to determine fine amounts, etc. Plus, if things go to sh*t, I put 'er in reverse and get the heck outta dodge.

[wirefire2]

Some departments get to have cool toys like computers, working codes, no oil in the tranny, ect ect. But being a Marine we get a car with some stickers on it, the cheapest codes around, and a cage. So I never sit in the car and I use the trunk like a desk. So I can lay everything out and write as many citations as I need. If everything does go to hell in a hand basket I can usually do something about it instead of looking up to see some nut with a gun charging my car. Also getting rear ended is a very high posibility on a traffic stop and you can be seriously hurt.

[deputy x 2]

In our dept, writing writing a cite inside the patrol car is a "no no". It is an officer safety issue. They say don't let the car be your coffin. Arrive at a call and get out of your car. This also goes for traffic stops. "Don't get caught inside your car." During FTO, this procedure is drilled into your head and if you don't comply, you will FAIL.

We ride in single man cars. Depending on how you position your patrol car, you can write the cite on the passenger side hood, near the door frame. You are able to see the driver as you write. Another place is behind the open passenger side door (somewhat cover). If the driver starts to move around inside the car, you are able to see him. If you have another officer present, they can watch the occupant(s) while you write using the trunk.

I put the DL'S and insurance papers on the hood. Then I don't have to mess with that little clippie doo. You can also put the insurance/reg under your pen's clip on your pocket or behind the citation book until you are ready to get info from it. You only need one at a time. I start with the DL, registration and finally the insurance.

We also have MDT'S but we do not get back into the car until it is time to leave. If the SGT or WC sees you inside the car on a traffic stop, it is an automatic transfer back to the jail. :eek: :eek: We run all of our info over a "service" channel on our handhelds.

If you don't want to use the trunk or hood, try resting your elbow/forearm (weak arm) on your duty belt. My mag pouch is worn in the upright position and makes a good arm rest.

Try different things out and see what is most comfortable for you.

[TrafficCop28]

I couldn't imagine chasing those papers after they blew off the hood. :D

Try laying your citation book on your thigh and using it as support, works inside or outside with the use of the rear bumper. Write a word and look back up over and over til your done. Rest your hand as much as you need if your writing multiple tickets, scumbag will sit there or go to jail. Make sure your checking him and your surroundings regularly. As far as the insurance and registration hold it under your citation book, put it in your pocket (just remember to give it back) or clip it with the license. Good luck, sounds like your progressing good.

[Fuzz]

You have just started something.....don't expect to be comfortable or good at it yet. You will get used to holding the cite book and writing. I clip the DL to the top of the cite book and hold the reg/ins with the cite book in my weak hand. As stated above here it is considered a big officer safety issue to be sitting in your car to write a cite (different states and different training so no offense to others). We use an inquiry channel on the radio or can use the MDC in the car if a cover unit has arrived. Do not use your trunk as a desk. Your papers will end up blowing down the street and you have very limited visibility of whats going on up in the other car. If you need some advice talk with your motor unit...they write tickets all day long and don't have a trunk or hood to use. :D
If you are in training.......practice, practice, practice. Everyone has their own style and does things the way they like....you will find something that is comfortable for you. Good luck in your training.

[pdizzle]

I bought a pack of little metal clips from a stationary store. Depending on what type of cite book you have, you can put one of the metal clips on the top of the cite book- or, if no room there, clip in inside/outside your shirt pocket. Now stack reg, insurance and license on top of the bottom portion of your ticket book (depending on what order you need the info.) When your done with the license info, put the license in your clip. Copy your registration info and put this info in your clip. Then, when you walk up to have them sign the ticket, all that stuff is clipped together out of the way and you can hand it all back without losing something on the roadside.

Also, I used to have one of the folding leather cite books, but it was too cumbersome for me. I bought one of the posse box style hard citation books and it made a huge difference.

[ACC703]

In TX we dont have registration cards so that is 1 less thing we have to deal with. Also at my department nowhere on the citation does it ask for insurance information. We only have to check and make sure they have it. So when I am doing my first contact with the violator I ask for their DL and proof of insurance. I then do a quick look over the insurance card making sure its valid, for the right vehicle, etc etc and then I hand it back to them and then go write the ticket. Then the only thing I have to worry about is their DL which gets clipped on the clippy on my citation book until I am done.

[sureshot015]

There are 2 schools of thought to the traffic stop ticket writing.

The first is obviously be quick out of your car and dont get back in untill you're going to drive off. The "dont let the car be your coffin" school of thought.

The second is being quick out of your car then writing the cite in your car. This is good b/c you have access to all of your equipment. Your MCT is at a click of the wrist, and the R870 and AR15 are at the push of a button. You can also shift the car into drive/reverse and keep your foot on the brake so you can get out of there quick if you need to. Also being in the car puts you at an advantage at night. They are blinded by the strobes/takedowns/spot light, meanwhile you are inside of your car not being siluetted by the lights and preserving your night vision. You are much harder to see inside of the car, and you have full view of the suspect car. Also in terms of being rearended, you are much safer in the passenger compartment then you are standing at the rear quarter pannel of your cruiser.

If you're uncomfortable about the stop do what you need to to make yourself comfortable. Wether it be getting a back up, or getting the driver out of the car, you run the show. PERIOD

But back to your original question about juggling the paperwork, and writing the ticket out of your car. I like to stand at the rear of my car about at the rear wheel well. I dont stand behind the rear bumper, b/c I dont what to be back there if I get rearended. I also open the passenger door to use as concealment during the stop. The perp sees the door open and assums I'm sitting there, but really i'm 10 or so feet back. If the comes out shooting I'm only a few steps away from good cover behind the rear bumper. As far as the paper work goes, What I do is prop the cite book up on my duty belt for support. I clip the DL on the holder with the Reistration behind it so that both are visiable. Then write the cite. If you cant get this configuration to work, then screw another bull dog clip on your cite book so that you can have all of the paper work visible. The other option is to clip the paperwork you're not using under your spare pen on your shirt pocket. Then switching them out when you need to. Make it a habit to look up at the car after writing a section. Dont get tunnel vison on your cite. Make sure you are paying attention to the entire scene....all 360 degrees of it. Best of luck.

[halonfromcpanp1]

I open the passenger door of my patrol vehicle, place the items (papers) on my passenger seat, and stand up behind my passenger door. I also set the mike on the passenger seat in case I need it quickly for backup, etc...

I am able to see the passenger side of the suspect vehicle, keep the items from blowing away, and see any movement in the suspect vehicle. I keep my cover, out of the way of oncoming traffic, and not between teh 2 vehicles in case turd decides to go in reverse...

Light em up with all light bar alley lights, no strobes because it screws with your pupils...i even light em up in the day...keep the habit up!!

[tpcop007]

I also just look at the insurance at the car only, then give it back, so all I have to worry about is the dl and regy. I clip the dl first with the regy behind it and all the way pulled to the right so I can see the year of the car. That's really all you beed from the regy because you can glance up and see the tag and year it expires (sometimes, they are small).

I usually stand behind my open passenger door with my left foot up on the frame. That gives me a little desk on my thigh and I can still look up and see in front of me.

[Seventy2002]

We usually write our citations in the car, the weather in western Washington being what it is. Inside or out, keeping track of the paper can be a pain. We recently went to 5.11 uniform shirts, with the big chest pockets; one can stuff quite a bit of paper in there. Some guys keep paperclips in the ashtray for keeping license, registration, and insurance together. Handy when you

[biggesto]

I guess we're lucky. We have in car printers attached to our MDT so everything is computerized. Type in the information, ticket gets automatically printed and information goes in the database so every other officer knows what is going on. If violator has recieved UTT before, their information gets filled in by the computer and we just double check and add the specific citation. Prints off 3 copies plus court notes and can always go back and view the UTT in the computer later too.